PITTSBURGH, PA (March 3, 2016) The board of the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority accepted the resignation today of Executive Director Jim Good, and will immediately begin a nationwide search for a new Executive Director.
In the short term the board has appointed as Interim Executive Director David Donahoe, a consultant with 45 years of public and nonprofit sector management experience, and formerly the director of the Allegheny Regional Asset District.
“With the support of Mayor William Peduto, this board has dedicated itself to tackling the tough decisions to get the Authority heading in the right direction,” said PWSA board chairman Alex W. Thomson. “PWSA has made significant improvements in many areas including internal operations, capital planning, construction coordination and green CSO initiatives. The Board thanks Jim Good for his efforts in this regard. However, we are keenly aware of the frustration some customers have with the continued billing and customer service problems. We understand that much work still needs to be done. We are determined as a board to fix these problems and gain back the trust of all our customers as quickly as possible.”
“PWSA faces extraordinary challenges in the next few years because of outdated technology, aging infrastructure and substantial debt. The Authority will continue to address our ongoing operational issues as well as these long term strategic issues. The board and PWSA employees are lucky to have David Donahoe, a man of great experience and integrity, working with us to improve the Authority during this transition period.”
Donahoe served for 20 years as executive director the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD), working with the agency’s volunteer board to allocate and administer more than $1.5 billion in grants to libraries, regional parks, pro sports facilities and cultural venues.
He has also served in multiple public sector roles including Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue; County Clerk, Deputy County Controller and Director of Aviation for Allegheny County; City Treasurer, Executive Secretary to Mayor Richard S. Caliguiri, and Executive Director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority in Pittsburgh; and Business Director for the Pittsburgh Public Schools. He was also Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Economy League office in Pittsburgh.
Donahoe will be paid $10,000 monthly, which was his same compensation at RAD.
